Basic Computer Troubleshooting

Prepared by: Ariel Lorenzo A. Manlapaz

Our Mission:
Provide you with some basic troubleshooting skills.  Provide knowledge of troubleshooting resources.  Provide confidence in your ability to work with computer hardware and software problems.  Have fun doing it.


When Were Finished:



You should be able to solve simple computer problems yourself. You should be able to communicate effectively with a technician when you need help. You wont be able to quit your teaching job and become a full time geek.

Overview
     

Troubleshooting methodology Hardware basics Software basics Printing basics Networking basics Buying computers

Troubleshooting Methodology

Get in the Right Frame of Mind



Relax


Murphys law

Do no harm
Make a backup  Make sure you can undo your work


Try a Quick Fix



Eliminate user error



Make sure you are following the correct procedures Make sure the results really are an error

Check the inventory - make sure everything is plugged in and turned on Turn everything off and back on again (after you have saved your information)

Use the Scientific Method

Identify the problem Gather Information No Problem Solved? Yes Document Solution Test Solution Propose Solution

Identify the Problem



Describe symptoms as completely and accurately as possible.

Date, time.  Scope of problem.  What you were doing when problem occurred.


Gather Information


  

Is the problem reproducible? Recent changes Current configuration Assemble resources

Troubleshooting Resources


Plan ahead.
Get copies of software, etc.  Find vendor sites for your hardware/software  Find internet support communities


Propose a Solution
  

Easiest solutions Most likely solutions Use a strategy:

Process of elimination  Divide and conquer


Test the Solution



Test only one thing at a time!

Problem Solved?


Yes
Congratulate yourself  Document the solution


No
Undo the solution  Gather more information  Propose and test another solution


Methodology Summary
    

Get in the right frame of mind Try a quick fix Use the scientific method Use your Internet resources Use the right strategy

Hardware Troubleshooting Objectives



Recognize the main components and understand their basic function. Understand that there are different types of components. Get familiar with how the components are installed. Understand common hardware problems.

Safety Note


Protect yourself
  

Power off One hand rule Dont open a monitor Power off Grounding strap

Protect the equipment

 

Take It Apart
   

Motherboard overview Hard drive/CD/DVD NIC/expansion cards Memory

Put It Back Together

Software Objectives


Be able to use basic operating system utilities to monitor system functions and identify software related problems. Be able to install a desktop operating system and perform basic configuration functions. Be able to obtain and install software updates and patches.

Agenda


Finish Software
Troubleshooting tips/drivers  Install software in lab


  

Networking Overview Printing Computer purchasing?

Review


Whats the first step in troubleshooting?

Software Problems


Isolate the problem

  

Document Application Operating system

Document Problems
  

Try opening a backup copy Try opening on another machine Try opening with a different version of the program

Application Programs
  

Try another document Uninstall any new items Apply vendor updates

Operating System
 

Try a different application Check disk drive space



Use scan disk and defrag for maintenance

 

Try a Windows troubleshooting wizard Apply vendor updates

Lets Install Software



Install Windows


Work with drivers as required

  

Find Windows update Download and install Adobe Acrobat Uninstall Adobe Acrobat

Printing Objectives


Be able to properly connect a printer. Be able to install print driver software. Be able to access and understand the windows tools used for print troubleshooting. Be able to perform basic troubleshooting of network printing.

Printing Basics


Install a new printer



Get correct cable and driver Start at printer and use process of elimination. Things to look for

Troubleshoot printing


Network printing


Network Objectives


Identify and solve basic networking problems. Differentiate between problems with a single machine and the entire network. Identify the reasons for common internet error messages. Find and use windows utilities helpful in identifying network problems.

Common Network Problems



Internet Problems
Bad URL  Server down  Missing or old plug-in plug

Network Problems
Cable  Software/client  Server


How does your computer boot up?



The power comes on and your computer jumps to life. Well, that's not really how it happens, though that is a pretty good generalization. The reality is that there is a specific process your computer must follow in order to boot up or it won't work properly, or even not at all. Knowing how a computer boots up is useful knowledge and can help pinpoint problems when your PC isn't turning on as it normally should. The boot process is also sometimes referred to as starting up or the start-up process. startWhile there are different kinds of boot processes, the following are the basic four of any system.

CPU
When you first switch on your computer, one thing and one thing only is initiated, and thus becomes the initiator to the entire boot process: the CPU. The CPU, or Central Processing Unit, is part of what is called the BIOS (basic input/output system). When the power comes on, the CPU searches for one simple instruction that will tell the system to go to the BIOS to allow it to start up. This instruction is usually referred to as a jump. In other words, the CPU turns on and finds the jump instruction in order to allow the BIOS to begin doing its job.

POST

The following process is the key in the boot-up bootprocess of any computer. Without it, your PC would not work. POST is exactly what it stands for: power-up powerself test. There are devices needed in order to continue the boot process, and the POST tests these devices for reliability. From there, the devices tested, if working properly, are started up. This power-up self test is powercompleted by the BIOS.

Bootable Devices
After the POST is successfully completed, the BIOS then searches for a bootable device. Usually this is the hard drive of any computer, but it can be any device that contains information to get an operating system to start up, including, but not limited to, a floppy disk or compact disc. If the first device thought to be bootable does not work, the BIOS will continue to search through devices until one is found. If one is not found, you will most likely get an error message or your computer simply will not boot up.

Master Boot Record



Inside the hard drive are partitions. A master boot record (MBR) is a partition which holds the remaining information required to start the computer (boot it up). Inside the MBR is a special piece called the kernel, or the operating system kernel. Here is the specific area of the hard drive the BIOS has searched for that contains all the information necessary for the operating system to open up and begin working for you. The master boot record can also be called the boot sector. While there are many more complicated steps in between these four, it has to do more with codes and computer language than anything else.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4566142_a-computerhttp://www.ehow.com/how-does_4566142_a-computerboot.html#ixzz1lf5MmzQO

Computer Hardwares Basic - Inside The Box

Computer Hardwares Basic Outline

        

Introduction to computer hardwares Basic operations Inside the box Motherboard Processor RAM & ROM Ports & Cabling Connectors & Expansion Card Storage & Hard Drives

Introduction to Computer Hardware

         

Case Power switch Reset switch Hard drive Floppy CD/DVD Zip drive Serial ports Parallel port USB port

         

Keyboard/mouse Network card Modem Sound card Video card RAM Motherboard Bus Fan Cables

A computer is:


An electronic machine that can be programmed to accept data (input), and (input), process it into useful information (output). (output). Data is put in secondary storage (storage) (storage) for safekeeping or later use. The processing of input into output is directed by the software, but performed by the hardware. GI/GO

Graphic Representation of Computer Components:

SOURCE: http://spruce.flint.umich.edu/~weli/courses/bus181/notes/chap4.html

Basic operations
    

Power cord plugged in.

(If plugged into a power strip, turn it on. Includes peripherals.)

Cables to peripherals secure. Power on peripherals. Power on the system. Observe the system for proper operation.

The basic system including keyboard, mouse and monitor.

The case

Front of the System Unit

 

Drives are housed in drive bays which are accessed at the front of the case. Internal drives, such as the hard disk drive, are installed in internal bays that are not typically as accessible as the external drives pictured here. System Unit cases come in a huge array of types and styles, depending upon hardware needs.

What is in the box?

Motherboard
ABIT KT7 RAID

The System Unit

The System Unit houses the central processing unit, memory modules, expansion slots, and electronic circuitry as well as expansion cards that are all attached to the motherboard; along with disk drives, a fan or fans to keep it cool, and the power supply. All other devices (monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc., are linked either directly or indirectly into the system unit.

Sources: Toms Hardware site: http://www.tomshardware.com

and

and

The Motherboard and CPU



The motherboard is the main circuit board of a microcomputer. It contains the central processing unit (CPU), the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), memory, mass storage interfaces, serial and parallel ports, expansion slots, and all the controllers for standard peripheral devices like the keyboard, disk drive and display screen. BIOS stands for Basic Input/Output System. It is the lowest-level software in the computer; it acts as an interface between the hardware (especially the chipset and processor) and the operating system. The BIOS provides access to the system hardware and enables the creation of the higher-level operating systems that you use to run your applications.

The BIOS is also responsible for allowing you to control your computer's hardware settings, for booting up the machine when you turn on the power or hit the reset button, and various other system functions.

Inside the Processor

CPU has 2 fundamental sections: the Control Unit, and the Arithmetic Logic Unit. These work together to perform processing operations. Fundamentally all processors do the same thing. They take signals in the form of 0s and 1s (thus binary signals), manipulate them according to a set of instructions, and produce output in the form of 0s and 1s. The voltage on the line at the time a signal is sent determines whether the signal is a 0 or a 1. On a 3.3-volt system, an application of 3.3 volts 3.3means that it's a 1, while an application of 0 volts means it's a 0. Other components of the CPU include the Registers and the System Clock. A processors clock speed is measured in Megahertz (MHz) and Gigahertz (GHz). Clock speed is the speed at which a processor executes instructions. A Pentium IV typically has a clock speed of 1.4 GHz.
The

urther research: Buses, System Bus, Expansion Bus

Random Access Memory (RAM)

  

RAM is Primary Storage, also called internal storage. Serves as computers workspace, storing all or part of the program that is being executed, as well as data being used by the program. RAM stores the operating system programs that manage the operation of the computer. RAM is Volatile storage:  Power goes, data goes! More memory = larger workspace  Large programs = large number of instructions  Measured in Bytes (KB, MB, GB, etc.) Data/instructions are copied into memory as needed.  Not enough memory or corruption of data/instructions in memory can cause crash.

Why is RAM so important?

 

Aside from the processor, the two most important factors affecting a computer systems performance are RAM and hard disk capacity. Hard disks are typically huge, with GBs of storage, so the primary limiting factor is the amount of installed RAM. Without enough RAM, the operating system must swap out storage space with your hard disk. The OS creates a Paging File (swap file) to supplement RAM (workspace). This is Virtual Memory. Virtual memory is inherently slow! RAM speed can typically be 120,000 times FASTER than the hard diskso the less you must rely on virtual memory disk (swapping files between RAM and hard disk), the faster your system will perform.

More About RAM:

 

RAM provides instructions and data to the CPU. These instructions/data are coded in bytes. Each byte is placed in a precise location in memory, called an address. To access data or instructions in memory, the computer references the addresses containing the bytes. The amount of memory available is therefore measured in bytes:

Name Byte Kilobyte Megabyte Gigabyte Terabyte B

Abbreviation

Approx. # of Bytes One One thousand One million One billion One trillion 1

Exact # of Bytes

Approx. Pages of Text One character One-half page 500 pages 500,000 pages 500,000,000 pages

KB (or K) MB GB TB

1,024 1,048,576 1,073,741,824 1,099,511,627,776

RAM continued-continued-

Ram chips consist of millions of switches that are sensitive to changes in electric current. When you turn on your computer, operating system files are loaded from a storage device (the hard disk, usually) into RAM, and they remain there as long as your computer is running. RAM contents changes as programs are executed. Two basic types of RAM are Dynamic RAM (DRAM), and Static RAM (SRAM). Most computers today use DRAM (specifically, Synchronous DRAM or SDRAM), which is faster because it is synchronized to the system clock.

RAM chips are typically packaged on small circuit boards called memory modules, which are inserted into special slots on the motherboard. DIMMs, or dual inline memory modules provide a 64-bit data path to the 64processor. Older SIMMs only provide a 32-bit path. 32The amount of RAM needed depends on the types of applications you intend to run on the computer. Software programs indicate the minimum amount of RAM required to run. How much RAM determines how many programs and how much data your computer can handle at one time.

Topic not covered: The Cache

ROM: Read Only Memory



ROM is nonvolatile. ROM chips contain permanently written data, called firmware (your BIOS lives here). ROM contains the programs that direct the computer to load the operating system and related files when the computer is powered on. ROM chips are usually recorded when theyre manufactured.

Flash memory is reprogrammable memory. You can upgrade the logic capabilities by simply downloading new software. This saves the expense of replacing circuit boards and chips.

And, then what? Coding Schemes define the patterns of bytes



Coding schemes, such as ASCII, EBCDIC, and Unicode, provide the means to interact with a computer that recognizes only bits (on/off states). When you press a letter on a keyboard, the electronic signals are converted into binary form and stored into memory. The computer then processes the data as bytes of information and converts them to the letters you see on the monitor screen or on a printed page.

SOURCE: http://spruce.flint.umich.edu/~weli/courses/bus181/notes/chap4.html

Ports


Ports are sockets that allow you to plug in device connectors to access the common electrical bus on the motherboard. Ports are usually found on the back of the system unit, but newer styles also have some of them conveniently located on the front. Ports allow specific types of connectors (which partly reflects changing technology as well as various kinds of technology).

Cabling

Types of Ports
 

Serial ports transmit data one bit at a time, like the picture on the left illustrates. Parallel ports transmit more than one byte at a time. These types of port designs are based on whether or not fast data transmission rates are required by the device or not. Most computers come with basic types of ports (serial, parallel, keyboard, mouse, and USB); and expansion cards allow you to expand the available types needed by specific devices.

Other types to look up and read about: SCSI, USB, Fire Wire, and MIDI.

Different Types of Connectors



Understanding the differences among connector types is useful and important, as the cable required to attach a device to your computer is specific to its connector, not to mention the port on the computer.

Fire wire connectors and port. (Also called IEEE 1394)

Expansion Cards

Expansion Cards plug into the expansion slots found on the motherboard. Convenient way to add extra ports or expand the computers capabilities.

Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP)

Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)

Expansion Slots and Cards



Expansion slots are sockets to provide direct connections to the common electrical bus, allowing you to insert a circuit board into the motherboard. Typical Expansion Cards:
   

For further research about connecting devices to your computer, look up:


   

Video Cards Sound Cards Modem Cards Network Interface Cards (NIC)

Laptops and portable computers typically have PC Cards thin creditcreditcard sized devices used to add memory, disk drives, etc.

Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) Universal Serial Bus (USB) Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE)

NonNon-Volatile Storage Devices



Disk drives
  

Internal & External Hard drives Removable disk drives

  

Floppy disks (1.4 MB) ZIP disks (100/250 MB) CDCD-ROM (700MB), DVD-ROM (~5GB/side) DVD

read only (-ROM), write once (-R), re-writeable (((- re(RW) CD-RW/DVDCD-RW/DVD-ROM, CD-RW/DVD-R CD-RW/DVD-

Combination drive


Many other forms



Memory Stick, MultiMediaCard, CompactFlash, and SmartMedia

External Hard Drives



60 GB External Hard Drive (Fire Wire)



Universal Buslink Corp.

Iomega 60GB Portable USB Hard Drive

IEEE 1394, commonly called Fire Wire, is a very fast external bus standard that supports data transfer rates of up to 400Mbps (in 1394a) and 800Mbps (in 1394b). Products supporting the 1394 standard go under different names, depending on the company. Apple, which originally developed the technology, uses the trademarked name FireWire. Other companies use FireWire. other names, such as i.link and Lynx, to describe their 1394 products. A single 1394 port can be used to connect up 63 external devices. In addition to its high speed, 1394 also supports isochronous data -- delivering data at a guaranteed rate. This makes it ideal for devices that need to transfer high levels of data in real-time, such as realvideo devices. Although extremely fast and flexible, 1394 is also expensive. Like USB, 1394 supports both Plug-andPlug-andPlay and hot plugging, and also provides power to peripheral devices

Further research: Universal Serial Bus (USB)

Reminder
 

Computers are not perfect! They are created by humans you will have errors and problems In order to work, the computer must read millions of code it can happen that the code is misread and therefore results in errors.

Credits
Pictures & info obtained from: www.cnet.com www.zdnet.com www.techtv.com www.pcguide.com www.webopedia.com http://spruce.flint.umich.edu/~weli/courses/bus181/not es/chap4.html